Jalyn Phillips is proof Clemson is loaded at safety

CLEMSON — Jalyn Phillips was a surprise contributor for the Clemson secondary in 2020. The Atlanta area native started one game and recorded 16 tackles and an interception, while playing 149 snaps. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound safety looked like a player with a bright future.

The rangy defensive back backed that up with a strong spring game performance.

The former top-500 recruit out of Archer High in Lawrenceville, Georgia led all players with seven solo stops in the intrasquad exhibition. Phillips flashed the ability to cover plenty of ground and made some key plays in space. The third-year player is in a heated battle on the depth chart to find playing time, but the ability seems to be there.

During his prep career, Phillips finished with an impressive 127 solo tackles, but the playmaking aspect the defensive back provided is what stood out. The top-50 prospect in the state of Georgia finished his high school career with a dozen pass breakups, six tackles for loss and two interceptions. Clemson is now hoping all of that playmaking will translate to the Power 5 level.

Entering the season, Clemson has a ton of options at safety. Nolan Turner and Lannden Zanders appear to be the starters, even though neither played in the spring game. Joseph Charleston is another quality piece who recorded 55 tackles last season. Freshmen Barrett Carter and Andrew Mukuba could be hard to keep off the field, while Phillips, R.J. Mickens and Ray Thornton III could also get in the mix. The competition will be fierce, but that is exactly what the Tigers want.

Not many programs have backup options like Jalyn Phillips. (Jalyn Phillips/Instagram)

Phillips missed some time in spring ball but has proven over time that he has what is needed to be a safety who contributes. There are obvious playmaking traits that the veteran possesses, and that could help him get on the field this season. Having logged reps in 25 career games should also help his cause.

Clemson currently has an embarrassment of riches at the safety spot. Position coach Mickey Conn has plenty of options, and how defensive coordinator Brent Venables utilizes all of them will be interesting to monitor. Phillips has proven to be a playmaker in the back end who can also come up and make physical tackles when needed. At worse, he should be a solid special teams performer.

The Tigers are in a great spot when a talent like Phillips is being used to bolster the two-deep. Clemson is loaded at safety.